Adapter for attachment to sirens



5 Sheets-Sheet l A. J. PARISSI ADAPTER FOR ATTACHMENT TO SIRENS s W y e o 0, r fw a V, i 2 A 4 V M W. @m: J kw I n z 41$ 3 54 LE. 3 Tm y w| o 1 mw y 0 6 z 4\ 9.

Dec. 18, 1962 Filed Jan. 16. 1959 Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. PARl SSI 3,069,675

ADAPTER FOR ATTACHMENT TO SIRENS Filed Jan. 16, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @M Mk Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. PARISSI 3,069,675

ADAPTER FOR ATTACHMENT TO SIRENS Filed Jan. 16, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. PARISSI ADAPTER FOR ATTACHMENT TO SIRENS Filed Jan. 16, 1959 5 SheetsSheet 4 fax/927602 n )w H Mwfin. 0 i i if r vi y H WM 3 kw: 0 ,0, 2 U 7 T w. 2 flw Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. PARISSI ADAPTER FOR ATTACHMENT TO SIRENS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 16, 1959 fr; yen (for Fly. m

I l 1 l I l l l a L rates Patented. Dec. 18, 1952 My invention relates to signaling devices being presently used by fire alarm companies and stations for both the fire signals and the CD air raid warning sirens, which are presently using the same tone, thereby causing public c niusion since the ublic does not know whether the signal is for fire or air raid purposes since they both s und alike in tone.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an adapter that can be installed on the present sirens and be operated independently of the regular fire signals. This adapter will provide a diiferent tone which can be distinguished from the regular fire siren so that the public can differentiate the fire signal from the air raid warning signal.

Another obiect is to provide a device that can be added to siren without changing the structure of the present siren.

Another object is to provide a device than can be installed on any siren by replacing the present intake el which is screwed on the present siren, and to ze the same screws which hold the present air intake runnel to hold my new adapter.

Another obiect is to provide a stand-by trouble signal that will operate a trouble bell in the event the electric circuit is in any way rendered inoperative by circuit failure.

A further object of my invention is to produce a device that will enable the siren motor to operate for a longer period of time without danger of overheating the rnotor coil.

Referring to the drawings:

PEG. 1 is an elevation view of a siren having my adapter attached thereto;

2 is a fragmentary side elevation of FIG. 1 showing my adapter in a position where it will change the long drawn wailing sound or signal ordinarily given by the siren;

3 is an enlarged top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section of FIG. 2 in the plane 4-4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a siren with my adapter attached thereto with portions in sections and portions a perspective view, partly in section with ol'en away, of the upper portion of a siren 'ter attached thereto;

7 1s a first wiring dia ram;

8 is a side elevation of one type of code wheel;

9 is a side elevation of another type of code with a FIG.

FlG.

FIG. wheel;

FlG. it) is a second wiring diagram; and

FlGS. ll, 12, 13 and 14 are side elevations of the code wheels used in FIG. 4t} and 41 being the same as 49 and 41 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Referring to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, 1 is the bas of the siren which is supported on the legs 2. 3 is the cylindrical body of the siren which is secured to the base by means of the bolts 4 and which has circumferentially spaced openings 5 in the side thereof. 6 is a cylindrical shell which is the principal part of my adapter and which is normally held in the position shown in FIG. 1 by means of the tension spring 7 which is secured to the inclined upri hts 8 and 9. Located in the body 3 is a rotor 13 which is driven at high speed by a vertical shaft ill (see PEG. 5) of the motor 12. The blades of the rotor id, as illlustrated, are vertical because, in the ordinary the siren, the rotor can draw air through both the top and bottom of the enclosing means and throw it out by centrifugal force through the openings 5 in the cylindrical base 3. It is the air passing through these openings which produces the ordinary siren sound. Mounted above the rotor is a solenoid 13 having an upwardly extending armature lid. Extending through the armature near the upper end thereof is a rod l5 which is perhaps best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The spring 7 is attached to the rod 3 and normally holds the armature in its uppermost position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

Referring now more particularly to F168. 3 and 5, the solenoid is used to lower the cylindrical portion 6 of the adapter and since this adapter has to move from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in PEG. 2, the move is somewhat greater than the throw of the armature Hence, the rod 35 has a lever 15 pivotally mounted thereon near the front end thereof, and a lever 17 near the rear end thereof. At the upper end of the lever in the element 18 is pivotally connected thereto and at its lower end is pivotally connected at 19 to the bar 259 which passes through vertically slotted openings 21 (see FIGS. 2 and 6) in the body 3 of the siren so it can slide up and down, and the ends of the bar 2t} exte d through the cylindrical element 6 of the adapter. The 0; or end of the lever is pivotally connected to the top of the element 22 (see FiGS. 5 and 6) which, in turn, is pivotally connected at its bottom to the channel element 23. The lever 17 which is pivotally connected to the rear end of the rod 15 is connected at its upper end to the element 24 which, in turn, is connected at its bottom to the bar 25 which, like the bar 2%, passes through slotted openings 26 in the element 3 so it can slide up and down, and the ends extend through openings in the adapter element 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the cylindrical adapter element 6 is in its top position so that the ordinary sound is delivered by the siren but, in FEGS. 2 and 6, the adapter element 6 is in its lowermost position so that it changes the character of the sound delivered by the siren.

in order to lower the element 6 the solenoid must be energized and the elements connected thereto and the bars 26; and 25 which move the cylindrical adapter element 6 downwardly are perhaps best shown in E6. 6.

Referring now to KG. 7, 27 is the siren and 13 is the solenoid which pulls the adapter downwardly and also opens the switch 23 which is normally closed (see also F168. 1, 2 and 5). The siren is operated by current at 220 volts from power lines 2? and 3h when relay 31 is closed. However, in order to energize relay 31, the relay 32 must be closed and this is accomplished by closing switch 33 which energizes the winding of the relay 32 at volts from power lines 34 and 35. When the switch 23 is closed it forms a shunt around the resistance 36.

in order to change the tone and the character of the sound delivered by the siren 27, the solenoid 13 must be energized which will effect an opening of the switch 28 and place the resistance 35 in series with the siren. To energize the solenoid i3 and lower the adapter, the relay 3? must be closed, and to accomplish this the 3-pole double throw switch 33 may be thrown in either direction to start the motor and 41 are code wheels which are driven by motor 33' through reduction gearing at the rate of about one revolution per minute. If the 3-pole switch 38 is thrown to the left, code wheel it} is the one which will determine the character of the signals sounded by the siren when the adapter is down. Thus, when element 42, which runs in contact with the periph- 4% t e switch 43 will be open.

power from line 34 will pass through the 3-pole switch 38 to the element 42, and when the element 42 closes switch 43, the current from power line 34 will energize the relay 37, the other terminal of which is connected to power line 35.

If the switch 38 is thrown to the right, current from power line 34 will flow to the element 44 which is running in contact with the periphery of code wheel 41, and when in contact with the points of the teeth on code wheel 41, element 44 will close switch 45. The switch 45, when closed, carries current from power line 34 to one terminal of relay 37, the other terminal of which is connected to power line 35.

The wires 46, 47 and 48 go to different remote stations where apparatus similar to that enclosed in the dotted rectangle 49 is located so that the siren may be operated from these remote stations either as a fire signal or for Civil Defense.

Referring now generally to the elements shown for the most part in the upper righthand corner of FIG. 7, which are used to indicate whether all of the circuits necessary to operate the siren are in operating condition. Thus, switches 50 and 51 are normally closed by the door of the cabinet containing the siren relay apparatus and 2 is a bell which is operated when there is a failure of the siren circuit. 53, 54, 55 and 56 are small neon lamps each of which has two spaced disks therein which can be electrically connected by the gas in the tubes, when heated, to effect illumination. 57 is a battery which operates the bell 52; 58 is a rectifier and 59 is a capacitor.

Under normal operating conditions current flows from the point 30 to one terminal 60 of relay 31 thence to one terminal of switch 50, through switch 5-0, neon lamp 53, rectifier 58 and the capacitor 59, the coil of relay 61 which normally holds open the switch 64 associated therewith, thence through switch 51 to a terminal of relay 31, and from there to the siren 1, while current from the point 62 flows to the other terminal of relay 31 thence through neon lamp 54 to another terminal to relay 31 and thence to the other terminal of the siren 27. The small current passing through the neon lamps is not sufiicient to operate the siren and yet as long as these lamps are lighted they indicate that the circuit which is adapted to operate the siren is in operating condition.

63 is a 2-pole double throw switch which is normally in the position shown. However, if relay 61, which holds the switch 64 open, is de-energized, switch 64 will close and the bell 52 will start to ring indicating that there is some break, short circuit, or other defect in the siren circuit. The bell 52 may be located where its sound will certainly be heard by someone who is in a position to investigate the situation. When it becomes necessary to open the circuit for repairs or otherwise, the switch 63 is thrown down and its position is indicated by the neon lamp 56. The neon lamps 55 and 5-6 are preferably of different color. For example, the color of lamp 56 may be red which, when lighted, indicates that switch 63 is not in siren operating position.

One of the important features of my adapter is the spring plates 65 which are best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 and which are secured to the adapter element 6 by means of rivets 66 or otherwise, as shown in FIG. 6. These plates not only maintain the adapter element 6 and the cylindrical body 3 of the siren in radially spaced relation but they serve to restrict the air flow through the openings 5 in the body of the siren when the adapter cylinder 6 is down.

Another important feature of my invention is the fact that when the adapter is in operation the resistance 36 is in series with the siren thereby reducing the current 4 adapter is in operation reduces the danger of burning out the siren motor making it possible for longer siren operation, without danger of siren motor failure.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-14, I have here shown a somewhat difierent method of operating the siren and the adapter from that shown in KG. 7. However, most of the elements shown are identical with those shown in FIGS. 7-9 and are indicated by the same numerals.

In FIG. 16 is shown a motor 67 provided with reduction gearing which drives the toothed wheel 68 which opens switch 69 to put the resistance 36 in the circuit which operates the siren. Thus, the closing of double pole main switch 70 closes the solenoid operated switch 32 to start the motor 67. The closing of main switch 70 also starts the motor 71 which drives the four, toothed wheels 40, 41, 72 and 73 through suitable reduction gearing. Wheels 46 and 41 are shown in side elevation in FIGS. 14 and 13 and serve to close and open switches 74, 75, 76 and 77. The closing of any of these last mentioned switches does nothing unless one of the switches indicated by 78, 79, 80 and 81 is closed.

Assuming that switch 70 is closed, and that the neon lamps 82 and 83 were lighted indicating that there is power available on the lines leading to switch 70, motor 71 will start turning the four toothed wheels, 40, 41, 72 and 73 and they will close and open switches 74, 75, 76 and 77. Then, if switch 78 is closed it will cause the adapted to come down at regular intervals and the siren to sound its normal signals each of which will be followed by the signal produced when the adapter is down; the closing of switch 7? will cause the siren to give comparatively long normal sounds each followed by two shorter sounds produced when the adapter is down; if switch 80 is closed each normal sound will be followed by three sounds produced by the adapter when down; and if switch 81 is closed each normal sound will be followed by four shorter and different sounds.

As in the case of the diagram shown in FIG. 7, the wires 46, 47 and 48 go to different remote stations where apparatus like that enclosed in the dotted rectangle 84 is located so that the siren may be operated from these stations. While I have shown only four toothed wheels, it should be obvious that almost any number may be employed.

What I claim is:

1. A siren comprising a tubular element having openings in the side thereof; a rotor for forcing air outwardly through said openings to cause said siren to emit a normal sound; and electric motor for driving said rotor at high speed; means for intermittently preventing emission of a normal sound and electrical means for reducing the current flow to said motor simultaneously with the prevention of emission of a normal sound.

2. In an electrically actuated device for giving a warning signal; a source of electric power for actuating said device; a normally closed circuit including said device, said source of power, and a plurality of small neon lights which when lighted, indicate that said circuit is in opcrating condition; and a plurality of manually operable switches for connecting said device and said source of power in said electric circuit and by-passing said neon lights.

3. In an electrically actuated device for giving a warning signal; a first source of electric power; means forming a first electrical circuit including said device, said automatically close to actuate said audible signal giving means upon a failure of the electrical power in said first circuit.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 in which said audible signal giving means is an electric bell.

5. The structure set forth in claim 3 in which the means which holds the last mentioned switch in open position is a solenoid.

6. The structure set forth in claim 3 in which said audible signal giving means is a bell; and the means which holds the last mentioned switch in open position is a solenoid.

7. In a device for sounding a warning signal, the combination with a siren; of means for changing the tone of said siren; a first source of electric power for actuating said siren and said tone changing means; an electric circuit including said siren, said tone changing means and manually operable switches for closing said circuit; a second source of electric power audible signal giving means actuable by said second source of power; and means actuable by a failure of power in said first circuit for electrically connecting said audible signal giving means and said second source of power.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7 in which said second source of electric power is a battery.

9. The structure set forth in claim 7 in which said audible signal giving means is a bell and said second source of electric power is a battery.

10. An adapter for a siren of the type comprising a cylindrical tube having circumferentially spaced openings in the side thereof, a rotor and means for driving said rotor at high speed for blowing air outwardly through said openings to cause said siren to emit its normal sound, said adapter including in combination a cylindrical sleeve slidably mounted coaxially with said tube and outwardly thereof, a normal position of said sleeve exposing to atmosphere the circumferentially spaced openings of said tube, means yieldingly urging said sleeve into its normal position, a solenoid mounted adjacent said tube and wholly within said sleeve in the normal position thereof, linking means connecting said solenoid and said sleeve, and means energizing said solenoid whereby said sleeve is moved out of its normal position and telescopes said tube to effect a partial restriction of air issuing therefrom.

11. The combination in accordance with claim 10 in which the linking means consists of a first lever pivotally attached to the moving element of said solenoid, a first link pivotally connected to said first lever, a first bar pivotally connected to said first link, said first bar having ends engaging said sleeve and first axial slots formed in said tube through which said first bar extends, a second lever spaced from said first lever pivotally attached to the moving element of said solenoid, a second link pivotally connected to said second lever, a second bar pivotally connected to said second link, said second bar having ends engaging said sleeve and second axial slots formed in said tube through which said first bar extends.

12. The combination in accordance with claim 10 in which guide means are provided to maintain the relative angular positions of said tube and said sleeve.

13. The combination in accordance with claim 11 in which the first and second axial slots are slightly greater in width than the width of said first and second bars respectively whereby the relative angular positions of said tube and said sleeve is maintained.

14. The combination in accordance with claim 10 and further characterized by including in the combination a plurality of means for energizing said solenoid, a motor for driving said last-mentioned means, and a plurality of manually operable switches for selecting the desired means for energizing said solenoid.

15. The combination in accordance with claim 10 and further characterized by including in the combination a plurality of toothed wheels having their teeth differently spaced, a motor for driving said wheels, a separate switch cooperating with each of said toothed wheels and closed by the teeth on said wheels to energize said solenoid, and a manually operable switch associated with each of said wheels for placing the switch actuated by said wheel in a circuit including said wheel operated switch, said solenoid and a source of power.

16. The combination in accordance with claim 10 and further characterized by including in the combination a toothed code wheel, a motor for driving said Wheel, a first manually operable switch for energizing the motor driving said code wheel, a switch automatically closed and opened by the teeth on said wheel for energizing and deenergizing said solenoid when placed in a circuit therewith and with a source of power, and a second manually operable switch for placing said siren in a circuit with a source of power and said code wheel actuated switch in circuit with a source of power and said solenoid.

17. The combination in accordance with claim 16 including electrical means for reducing the current flow to the motor driving said rotor simultaneously with the energization of said solenoid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,149,583 Hutchison Aug. 10, 1915 1,164,737 Mead Dec. 21, 1915 1,520,225 Cosgrave et al Dec. 23, 1924 2,462,862 Guthner Mar. 1, 1949 2,688,302 Desmond Sept. 7, 1954 2,766,448 Ritchey Oct. 9, 1956 2,779,936 Loudon Jan. 29, 1957 2,782,404 Bergman Feb. 19, 1957 

